3G Writeup From Lucas

Folks - Lucas has written up his 3G conversion and it looks very good to me.  However, it is in a different format than what we have with regard to 3G conversions.  His is a Word document with everything it it where the way we've done it previously is by breaking it up into sections with tabs, like Overview, Choosing An Alternator, etc.

And that brings up the question of how best to present the info.  We can do it either way, and I'd like your input.  Towards that end please go look at these two pages and let me know what you think the best way to do this is:

Documentation/Electrical/3G Conversion: This is our original page and it shows the tabs.  But it isn't quite the latest as that's the "under construction" page at Documentation/Electrical/3G Conversion/3G Conversion - Under Development.

Documentation/Electrical/3G Conversion/3G Writeup From Lucas: This is the one from Lucas.

Again, please review the two pages and help us think through how best to present the info.

Gary, very first impression:
1- I use my phone a lot when reading at the forum, and also while working at the truck.  Sometimes the iPad.  Never the laptop when buzzing around the truck.
2- So, .DOC files are difficult to use  with these mobile devices.  No easy scrolling nor zoom in-out.  Forces me to previously download them on the PC, then transfer them in PDF, then using the PDF files on mobile devices.
3- The tabs structure is useful, easily usable on mobile devices.
Considering this, I see two ways to integrate Lucas precious step by step guide:
A- (the hard way): Split it in different chapter and integrate them directly in each relevant existing page tabs.
B- (the short way): Simply create a new tab and put a pdf of Lucas document in it, which could be easily downloaded.  At the beginning of the thread, a short explanation to say it is a step by step complement of the different tabs.

This is my very humble opinion, based on the tech tools I use to consult the Forum while working on the truck.  May not be shared by the majority...

Question:  Why is there two pages for the same subject?

I have to agree with Jeff that Microsoft documents don't play well with phones and I usually just give up after a couple of minutes staring at a Microsoft document screen placeholder.
Though that may be more an artifact of your onedrive, since this seemed to render in a reasonable time.

But I do think that Lucas has done a great job simplifying and documenting the 1G - 3G conversion.

Exactly what Jim said. 👍🏽

Ok guys, that’s exactly the kind of input I’m looking for. But this document is on my One Drive so the speed loading wasn’t due to that.

Anyway, when I get back from vacation, and more people have had a chance to chime in, I’ll process it. Probably break it up into tabs and put it directly on the website rather than in a separate document.

And Jeff, one of those pages is “in development” and is more specific than the other. Isn’t it for a 2G to 3G conversion?

Gary Lewis wrote

And Jeff, one of those pages is “in development” and is more specific than the other. Isn’t it for a 2G to 3G conversion?

Well, Gary, I see that one of the two pages is under construction, but seems to me that they are titled very similarly, but reversely:
- Swapping 3G in place of 1G or 2G.
- Swapping 1G or 2G for a 3G.

Kind of
take a new hat to replace your old one,
or
replace your old hat with a new one.

Very subtile...  I am missing something?


One thing's sure, it's time for some vacation, hey.

Maybe it's just my personal feelings but Lucas + Electrical gives me the willies.

85lebaront2 wrote

Maybe it's just my personal feelings but Lucas + Electrical gives me the willies.

I flipped through the write-up and definitely think it belongs on the 3G page. I didn't particularly mind the word document presentation as-is. I personally find the existing info hard to wrap my head around since it is so spread out. Lucas put it in more of a "How-to" format, and I like that.

As for where it sits, when I hit documentation/electrical/3G conversion, Lucas' writeup was right there to find. Seems like a good spot to me.

What I didn't like about Lucas' writeup, is that it reminded me that I don't know where my factory 2G harness went.

Well I'm glad for all the positive feedback in making the project seem a little simpler. That's what I was shooting for!

If it's going to stay on the website, my two cents would be to integrate into the website itself and not use the word file. On the 3G conversion page maybe you could just break up the content of the word doc into separate tabs, then add a different tab for 2G wiring?

Sorry for not chiming in sooner, just been working a lot.

Lucas, I just wanted to say Thank You for the effort you put into this.  

Everything is very clearly laid out, and your final illustration shows what I try to tell people about the 130A body being wider than the old 1 or 2G.
Without the extra pivot length of the 8.25 C-C mount the 148mm body of the 130A is severely limited on adjustment.

Thanks Jim, it was my pleasure.
This forum has always been a big help to me, it's nice to give something back if I can.

Well done Lucas!

I will be getting to the 3G Alternator installation soon. I installed a 5.0 from a 1996 F150 into my 1952 Mercury, and will be wiring the truck from scratch, so this stuff will come in handy.

Cory, your '96 came with a 3G.
Do you mean that you are upgrading the 95A (135mm diameter) to a 130A, 148 mm unit?

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Cory, your '96 came with a 3G.
Do you mean that you are upgrading the 95A (135mm diameter) to a 130A, 148 mm unit?

No, I meant that I'll be getting to the wiring of the 3G alternator soon. I'm not swapping one in...not really at least, but I'm re-wiring the truck from scratch, and I'm wiring it up as a carbed truck with Duraspark ignition and a 3G alternator. So it will be like swapping in a 3G alternator into a 1980 F150, except I'm starting from zero;).

I have this kit:

https://www.painlessperformance.com/wc/10104

And this kit:

https://www.painlessperformance.com/wc/30812

Painless makes a 3G harness kit, but I'm not sure I need it yet. I saved the 3G harness from the 1996 F150, and the main harness kit comes with a big main fuse for the alternator, so I should be OK with what I have (if the old Ford harness reaches where I need it to go).

Between the 3G write-ups on here and the ones Painless supplies, I should be OK wiring it in. It's not really a "3G swap", but it sorta is...lol.

Ah, gotcha!  😉

Polygroove I assume?
Or are you using a Mustang timing case and water pump?

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Ah, gotcha!  😉

Polygroove I assume?
Or are you using a Mustang timing case and water pump?

Yes, custom length polygroove. My 3G is the 1994-1996 F150 style with the 3 long mounting bolts. My water pump is from a 1987 foxbody 5.0, but in hindsight it didn't need to be. I ended up using an EFI timing cover, and could have also used the correct 1996 F150 water pump, but I had already purchased the Mustang pump. They're dimensionally the same, but the Mustang pump has the round ports so it can be installed on a CW or CCW timing cover.

Given the choice, I prefer Polygroove over V-Belt all day long.

The 95amp 3G should provide more than enough power for me. Overall I will have fewer electrical gadgets than the donor 1996 F150 had, with the one exception being an electric radiator fan instead of the mechanical fan that the F150 had.

You seem to have the wiring well in hand too!  

Hope you're getting a soft start controller and beefy relay for your fan setup.

ArdWrknTrk wrote

You seem to have the wiring well in hand too!  

Hope you're getting a soft start controller and beefy relay for your fan setup.

Ya, I'm kinda leaving the wiring until last. I'm pushing my way through all of the mechanical items, one by one right now, and it's going super slow.

Scott put me on to the Derale fan controller, so I have that on my mind but I haven't read much into it yet.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-16797?seid=srese1&gclid=CjwKCAjwyaWZBhBGEiwACslQo7-N-MOt__BVW6YqHwD_TInBaq4ajYuPz43opSK5SqwmfGyfVqudFBoCAgwQAvD_BwE

I was really wanting to keep the stock 5.0 mechanical fan/clutch assembly, but there's just not enough room for it. Bummer.